LRAC: Operating Support Grant

The Lake Region Arts Council offers the LRAC Operating Support Grant to enhance the arts' vitality in West Central Minnesota. This grant supports arts organizations with annual expenses below $174,000, focusing on fine arts and promoting community engagement. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to arts programming and be located within the nine-county LRAC region. The funding covers operational costs, ensuring organizations can stabilize and grow their artistic offerings.

Operating Support Grants
The Lake Region Arts Council provides operating support on a two-year grant cycle to qualifying arts organizations in the nine counties of the region. The purpose of these operating support grants is to strengthen and stabilize arts organizations.
Funding Categories
Basic operating support: rent, insurance, utilities, publicity, postage, etc.Administrative support: salaries, consultant fees, contracted workers, etc.Capital expenditures: purchase of equipment: water heater, lighting and sound equipment, tables and chairs, etc.Building projects: construction, purchase, and renovation of buildings.

Eligibility

Lake Region Arts Council serves the nine counties of: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin in west central Minnesota. For: Arts Organizations with Annual Expenses less than $174,000 To be eligible for funding, the grant applicant (arts organization) must:Have the fine arts as its primary focus.
Be a non-profit arts organization with
Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Minnesota which is active and in good standing. Be located in the LRAC nine county region;
Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties. Do not intend to relocate outside the nine-county LRAC region during the grant year of the grant project or until approval of the finalreport. Note: if an organization leaves the LRAC region before the completion of the grant project the grant funds must be returned.Have been in existence and have actively
programmed arts events for at least one year. The start date for the organization is the date listed on their MN Articles of Incorporation Certification or IRS Letter of Notification, which ever has the earliest date. Have a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status
with the Internal Revenue Service. Submit a complete and accurate application,
providing all requested information. The financial information must be accurate, detailed and appropriate to the proposed use.Have a Board of Directors that meets on a regular basis. Have their most recently completed
year’s actual operating expenses less than $174,000. Have 60% of the programming be focused on the arts. The most recent financial annual report must have 60% of the total operating expenses dedicated to arts activities and arts related expenses.Be able to demonstrate the high quality of
the arts products, services or activities they provide and their impact on the community. Give a specific intent for the funds to be
granted. If requesting funding for utilities, provide proof of previous year’s utility expenses with statements or invoices. An organization receiving LRAC Project
Grants and/or LRAC Legacy Grants may apply for LRAC Operating Support.

Ineligibility

Applicants not eligible for funding:

• Any organization whose primary focus is

not the fine arts. Any organization already receiving Operating
Support Funds from the Minnesota State Arts Board or Operating Support from the McKnight Foundation is not eligible to apply for LRAC Operating Support. Schools, universities, public radio and
television stations, libraries, museums, civic organizations (such as chambers of commerce and other community service agencies), churches, religious organizations, or units of government. Any organization, which has a final or
mid-term report overdue or not approved by the LRAC staff from past LRAC grants.The LRAC cannot consider an application for an Operating Support grant if any of the following conditions exist:The organization is a recipient of General Operating Support Funds from the Minnesota State Arts Board.The organization is a recipient of Operating Support from the McKnight Foundation.The applicant has final or midterm grant reports overdue or not approved by LRAC staff or board from past LRAC grants.The application is not complete and accurate, providing all requested information.The request is from an organization that promotes religious backgrounds, faiths or beliefs or the events are designed essentially for the religious socialization of the audience.The request is for an individual instead of an organization.The fine arts are not the primary emphasis of the applicant organization.The request is to reduce or eliminate accumulated deficits.LRAC Operating Support funds may not be used as a match for other LRAC grants.The organization's activities are for "members only". Organizations must provide for significant community involvement.The organization or its activities promote a particular political agenda or beliefs.The organization or its activities attempt to influence any state or federal legislation or appropriation.The request is for non-operating costs, such as programming or production costs.